Gas-regulator.



A..J. HODGE.

GAS REGULATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY o. 191e.

1, 107,61 '2, Patented Aug. 18, 1914,

ils@ w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. Hononj' or PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNOIt IO RELIANGE GAs REGU- LATOn e MACHINE COMPANY, or PASADENA. CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION or CALIFORNIA.

GAS-REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

To all lwhomit may concern.:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. Honon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have Invented new and useful Improvements in Gas-Regulators, of which the following is a s eciflcation.

This invention re ates to improvements in gas regulators, and especiall to devices adapted to automatically reguliite the pressure between the gas mains and the service pipes of buildings, and the principal object is to provide a O'as regulator in which the diaphragm is un( er an equable tension irrespective of the position in which the regulator may be placed.

It is a further object to provide a simple and efficient mechanismV to accomplish the results pointed out above.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of the application for Letters Patent:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through the mechanism showing the operating lever and its links in elevation. Fig. 2 is a view of thecasing with the cover removed, as on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the casing on the li'ne 3-3 showing the pivotal mounting for the lever. Fig. 4 isa perspective view of the pivoted lever clearly showing its preferred form and pressed out of sheet metal. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the link pivoted to the sliding valve. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the link connecting the diaphragm and lever, with portions of the diaphragm and level shown in section.

In the drawings showing the details and specific features of the invention, 10 represents the casing provided with a suitable cover 11, provided with flanges 12 on their approximated surfaces. Between these langes and securely held by the securing bolts 13 passing therethrough, is the diaphragm 14 formed of suitable flexible material capable of confining gas. The two chambers 15 and 16 formed by the diaphragm as a variable partition are preferably circular in form, each having openings therein. The chamber 15 is open to the Outside air and the gas pressure chamber 16 is provided with suitable inlet opening 17 and outlet Opening 18 provided with suitable means to secure pipes thereto. Centrally mounted on the diaphragm and concentric therewith are the plates 1t) and 20, which are preferably dished to some extent, the outer plate 19 acting as a stop against the inside of the cover. The inner plate 20 serves as a support for the connecting link 21 suitably pivoted in the bearings 22, the terminal ends of the link being provided with the bearings 23 adapted to engage with ,the operating lever.

Pivotally mounted within the casing is the operating lever 24, which is preferably formed, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, of suitable sheet metal pressed into the required shape. In the restricted portion of the pressure chamber 16 and approximately in axial line with the inlet and outlet openings are the bearin s 25, which su port the pivot 26 on which t e lever 24 is reely movable. These bearings 25 are shown securely threaded into the side walls of the extension so that the parts can be readily removed or adjusted. This pivoted lever is )rovided with suitable side walls 27 which orm the bearings for the various pivots and is cut away on its connecting face to avoid interference with link 34. The side walls 27 of ,approximately triangular form, with the pivot bearings for the lever at one angle ot' the triangle, while the link 21 connecting the lever 'to the diaphragm with the pivotal bearings for its pivots 23 placed at the most distant angle of the lever or point of greatest leverage. The other angle is provided with the pivot 29 to which is pivoted a link 30, which engages with the sliding member 31 supported in a bore 32. Intermediate of these three pivots is the pivot 33, to which is pivoted the lever 34, which is connected to the sliding valve 35 by pivotal means. This valve 35 is shown of cylindrical form and reciprocally mounted in a suitable valve chamber formed in the casing and registering with the axial line of the inlet opening. Engaging with the valve 35 is the adjustable valve seat 37, shown as a chambered threaded structure threaded into the valve chamber 36 and provided with a conical formed valve seat which is tapered to form a rather sharp seat, adapted to make a tight contact with the gaskets 38 inclosed in and forming the face of the valve B5. The opening 39 connects the valve chamber to the pressure chamber 16. In the same plane, preferably external to the valve chamber is the bore 32 in which is placed the sliding member 31 under compression of the s ring 40. The outer end of this bore, circu ar in cross section, opens eXter-iorly,4 and i's screw threaded to receive a threaded uplug 41 to which is secured a pin 45. A asket 42 surrounds the pin and is compresse by the washer 43 also threaded into the chamber and provided with a slot 44 to receive a screw driver. The outer end of the pin 45 is cut away at 46 and is adapted to engage a hollow wrench which may be inserted. to turn the plug 41, and by its movement adjust the tension of thel spring 40, this spring hafving a suitable seat in the sliding member 31. The other end of the wrench is adapted to engage theslot 44, to turn the washer 43 to compress the gasket to a gas tight joint.

As is readily seen in the operation of my regulator, theinlet opening is shown as closed in Fig. 1, the pressure in the chamn ber 16 containing gas being sucient to overcome the tension of the spring 40. On the release o'f'this pressure by the exit of the gas through the outlet 18 and its connection the tension of the spring through its connecting link on the lever 24 forces the lever to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, draws the diaphragm into the pressure chamber and the valve 35 is opened and gas may enter the chamber 16, and when sufficient pressure has been obtained therein the diaphragm will be forced outward and return the lever to the position shown in solid lines With the valve closed. As will be readily seen the pivots 26, 29 and 31 are nearly in the same line, the pivot 29 being oifset slightly so that the leverage exerted is at its lowestposition. As the pressure is relieved the tension of the spring becomes less by extension, but the leverage increases with the movement of the lever and the resulting tension exerted on the diaphragm is practically constant resulting 1n a moreA equable distribution of the gas through the.

service pipes and less violent action of the diaphragm. rll`his action is simple and the members are readily assembled and the forni of the lever and the connecting links allow a rigid and positive control.

W'hat l claim is:

1. A gas regulator, comprising acasing having a gas inlet and outlet, a flexible da phragm mounted therein, av sliding valve member controlling said inlet, a pivotally mounted operatingv lever, a spring tension arancia -me'chanism mounted in.y said ca" said mechanism adapted to actuete .said diaphragm `with Aequable compression and to control the movementof said sliding` valvc` and a plurality of links ivotally'connecte to Saidbperating lever, t e free ends oi said links being connected'to the valve, diaphragm and ,spring tension mechanism respectively. f l z yj l 2. A gas regulator, comprising a casing,

a diaphragm mounted therein, a. slidingin-l let valve mounted in said casing, a re.l

siliently actuatedy slidemember mounted in .7@

a bore formed .in said casing, a *pivotally 'mounted lever in said casing, a plurality of connecting links pivotally connected to said lever, the free ends of each or said 'link being pivoted to said sliding 'inlet valve, slide member, and diaphragm respectively,

and resilient means to -actuate said, slide diaphragm to l gas regulator, comprising a casing nection for the valve and intermediatethe pivots for the pivoted lever anddiaphragm, `Whereby an equable tension is appliedv te said diaphragm. "y

4. A gas regulator, comprising a casing having inlet and outlet apertures, adiae pivotally phragm lmounted therein, a I

said dlamounted lever, a link connectin phragm and lever, having Va pivotal con? nection at the point of greatest leverage on said lever, a valve controlling said inlet, a link connecting said valve and lever having a pivotal connection with the lever intermediate of the greatest leverage of said lever, a spring actuated slide, and a link connecting said slide and lever having a pivotal connection with said lever adapted to increase the leverage of the action as the spring tension is reduced.

In witness. that l claim the foregoin l have hereunto subscribed my name t iP 13th day of November, 1912.

ARTHUR J. HUDGE.

Witnesses Gmo. S. FLINTOFT,

Earns llt. lPoLnenn. 

